Sanctuary

For more than thirty years, God has granted me the awesome privilege of opening His Word to hundreds and thousands of people. Through these years I have observed and experienced an interesting trait of human nature. This human “trait” I have found to be universal, regardless of culture, nationality or gender. It has to do with a person’s absolute need to believe something. Apparently, life’s day-to-day decisions are made based upon what a person believes to be true. When a person believes something, for him or for her it is true even if it is factually and provably incorrect! As a matter of circumstance it has been impossible to avoid “faith issues” while presenting my Prophecy Seminars. I soon learned that every audience contains persons of varied belief, conviction and spiritual maturity. I discovered that persons attending a Bible Prophecy Seminar for 8-12 hours would likely be zealous and sensitive regarding their personal religious beliefs. On more than a few occasions I have been publicly challenged regarding some point in my presentation that did not
agree with the hearer’s understanding. People are “sensitive” regarding faith issues—

So what?
Well, you see, by definition I am a Seminar Presenter; I am a Teacher and Instructor. By definition, people attending my seminars should come to learn something. But having experienced firsthand the fickleness and sensitivity of human nature regarding faith matters (belief), I decided that henceforth I would open my seminars by leading the audience to a “psychological watering trough of self-discovery and / or selfincrimination.”

SO THIS BECAME MY CHALLENGE:
“We are here today to discover and hopefully, learn something new. Some of the things I’m going to share today could be incorrect. I don’t expect you to believe or accept anything simply because I say it, and certainly nothing that does not ring true in Scripture. If you wish, we can spend this entire day rehearsing what you already know, but then you would learn nothing new—Would you?”

“AMEN!” was the typical hearty response. After such a pointed challenge and such a positive response, would you be surprised to discover that some in attendance could still take offense and walk out? I distinctly remember one occasion when a gentleman of years and well-known to the large audience in attendance, blurted out loudly, “This man has lost his mind!” Now that I have your attention, with this discussion I will likely be treading on sensitive religious ground for some persons. Some may read this attempt at discovery and feel uncomfortable or even angry—I pray not! My intent is never to deliberately offend but always to challenge to discovery. So, reader, if you are bold enough and spiritually mature enough to explore certain “issues” with me, perhaps together we can “learn something new.”

MY DISCLAIMER:
I do not believe that I am especially “chosen” by God or above all others in intellect. I am, however, a persistent, honest inquirer and I do believe God rewards such effort. Jesus promised:
“Seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: For...he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7, 8.

“SAVED; SAVIOUR; SALVATION,” Just what do these words mean? As a youth I was first exposed to the subject of “salvation” when a very fine, very missionary-minded Baptist minister began knocking on doors in our community.
After introducing himself, he announced, “There’s no church in this neighborhood and I intend to build a church here to the glory of God! Won’t you come join me?” It was in that fledgling Baptist church that I first heard the question, “Are you saved?”
“Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?” “You must have salvation!” With this Sanctuary/Tabernacle/Temple discussion, my intent is to focus, first on the “earthly,” and afterward attempt to shift the perspective and focus from the human to the “Heavenly.”

Sal-va-tion, n. 1. a saving or being saved from danger, evil, difficulty or danger. 2. a person or thing that is a means, cause or source of preservation or rescue. 3. Theol. Deliverance from sin and from the penalties of sin; redemption

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